Interactive garment

ABSTRACT

An interactive garment includes a shirt having a front section attached to a rear section and sleeves extending from the attached front and rear sections. The front section includes an opening and the shirt is formed of materials having contrasting colors capable of engaging the interest of a small child. The garment may include may include a plurality of pockets. The pockets may include various shapes including rectangular, circular, triangular and square shapes to stimulate interaction with a young child.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/310,764 filed Mar. 5, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to garments and more particularly to interactive garments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Small children develop various motor, cognitive and vision skills as they mature. Development of these skills may be supported and nurtured through the interaction with their environment. There is therefore a need for a garment that may be worn by a parent or caregiver that stimulates the motor skills, vision and learning development of a child. There is also a need for a garment that may be changed or updated to provide age appropriate stimulus as a child develops.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, there is disclosed an interactive garment including a shirt having a front section attached to a rear section and sleeves extending from the attached front and rear sections. The front section includes an opening and the shirt is formed of materials having contrasting colors capable of engaging the interest of a small child. The garment may include may include a plurality of pockets. The pockets may include various shapes including rectangular, circular, triangular and square shapes to stimulate interaction with a young child.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an interactive garment including a plurality of pockets;

FIG. 2 is a back view of an interactive garment including a plurality of pockets;

FIG. 3 is a photographic representation detailing the plurality of pockets and color scheme of the interactive garment;

FIG. 4 is a photographic representation of a back of the interactive garment detailing the color scheme and plurality of pockets.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown one embodiment of an interactive garment 5. The interactive garment 5 may include a shirt 10 having a front section 15 that is attached to a rear section 20 and includes sleeves 25 that extend from the attached front and rear sections 15, 20. In one aspect, the front section 15 may include an opening or seams 30 extending vertically through the front section 15 as shown in the figures. The seams 30 may be joined using buttonholes and buttons 40, 45 that are attached to opposing sides of the seam or opening 30.

The shirt 10 may be formed of materials that have contrasting colors capable of engaging the interest of a small child. In one aspect, the colors may include colors selected having a high contrast that allows for perception and engagement of young children. For example, in the range of from zero to six months old children will typically respond to bold contrasting colors and graphics that will captivate and hold a young child's attention, encouraging visual development as well as physical activity. In one aspect, colors including black, white and red may be utilized for the materials of which the shirt is formed. Additionally, primary colors may also be utilized in various portions of the interactive garment 5.

Again referring to the various figures, the interactive garment 5 may include a plurality of pockets 45 formed thereon. The pockets 45 may include various shapes including rectangular, circular, triangular and square shapes to stimulate interaction with a young child.

In one aspect, the plurality of pockets 45 may be located on various sections of the interactive garment 5. The plurality of pockets 45 may include at least one pocket 46 that is formed on the sleeves 25. Additionally, at least one pocket 47 may be formed on the back section 20 and at least one pocket 48 formed on the front section 15.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the front section 15 may include various pockets 48 positioned at different positions vertically on the front section 15. In one aspect, larger pockets 48 may be positioned on a lower section 50 of the front section 15 to accommodate larger items. Additionally, the plurality of pockets 45 may include pockets positioned on the interactive garment to allow access for a caregiver as well as regulate access to the pocket by a child based on an age of the child.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the pocket 49 positioned on a back or rear section 20 of the shirt 10 proximate the bottom of the shirt may only be accessed by a child that is tall enough to reach into the pocket 49. In this manner, the height or age of the child may be utilized to allow access to specifically positioned pockets. Additionally, the pocket 51 positioned on an upper shoulder 55 on the rear section 20 of the garment 5 may be accessed by a relatively young or smaller child that is positioned or held close to the shoulder of a caregiver.

In one aspect, the plurality of pockets 45 is sized to allow access to a small child. The pockets 45 may receive an age-appropriate object of interest to a child. As the child develops, the objects of interest may be changed in the pockets such that they may be age appropriate. In this manner, objects may be removed and added to the pockets as the child develops allowing for a variety to further stimulate a child's development.

Again referring to the figures, the plurality of pockets 45 may include buttonholes 60 formed therein with a corresponding button 65 attached to the shirt. In one aspect, the button and buttonholes 65, 60 are positioned and sized to allow for manipulation by a child. In this manner, a child may improve dexterity and problem-solving skills by having to manipulate a button to gain access to a pocket that may contain an object of interest. The buttonholes 60 may also be utilized to tether various objects to the interactive garment. For example, an object may be attached to a length of cord or material onto which one end includes a button that may be positioned within the buttonhole 60 with an opposing end including a clip or other attachment that may be utilized to attach toys or objects.

Referring to FIG. 1, in one aspect, at least one pocket 52 of the plurality of pockets 45 may include multiple layers thereby defining more than one pocket. As can be seen on the lower left portion of the drawing of FIG. 1, a circular pocket may be overlaid relative to the rectangular pocket such that an area behind the circular pocket defines one pocket and the area behind the rectangular pocket defines another pocket area. In one aspect, the multiple pockets may be divided into sections with one section for access of a caregiver and the other for access by a child. Various mechanisms may be associated with the sections to prevent access by a child or to otherwise indicate that a child might access a specific pocket. In one aspect, a color or shape of the pocket may be utilized to indicate access by a child. For example, various colored pockets may be utilized for housing toys or otherwise allowing access to a child while a contrasting color is utilized to indicate a closed or nonaccessible pocket. In this mariner, a child may learn that various colors indicate the ability to access the pocket to stimulate brain development and development skills.

The interactive garment is designed to stimulate and develop various vision range development skills as well as motor development skills. Additionally, the interactive garment may be changed or modified as the child develops by positioning various age-appropriate items and objects within the pockets. The interactive garment 5 promotes the development of social skills, brain development, as well as stress and coping characteristics of a child by having the benefit of being held by a caregiver. Various research supports and outlines the benefits of early childhood interaction with a caregiver or parent prior to the age of one year. The interactive garment encourages and supports keeping a child held closely to a caregiver while improving various motor skills and reflex movements by manipulating objects associated in the pockets as well as gaining access to the pockets. 

1. An interactive garment comprising: a shirt having a front section attached to a rear section and sleeves extending from the attached front and rear sections, the front section including an opening; the shirt formed of materials having contrasting colors capable of engaging the interest of a small child.
 2. The interactive garment of claim 1 wherein the shirt includes a plurality of pockets formed thereon.
 3. The interactive garment of claim 2 wherein the pockets include various shapes including rectangular, circular, triangular and square shapes.
 4. The interactive garment of claim 2 wherein the pockets include multiple layers defining more than one pocket.
 5. The interactive garment of claim 1 wherein the contrasting colors are selected from red, black and white.
 6. The interactive garment of claim 1 wherein the contrasting colors are selected from primary colors.
 7. The interactive garment of claim 2 wherein the pockets include buttonholes formed therein with a corresponding button attached to the shirt for manipulation by the child.
 8. The interactive garment of claim 2 wherein the plurality of pockets includes at least one pocket formed on the sleeves.
 9. The interactive garment of claim 2 wherein the plurality of pockets includes at least one formed on the back section.
 10. The interactive garment of claim 2 wherein the plurality of pockets includes at least one on the front section.
 11. The interactive garment of claim 2 wherein the pockets are sized to allow access to a small child and wherein the pockets receive an object of interest to the child.
 12. The interactive garment of claim 11 wherein the object of interest may be changed in the pockets as the child develops.
 13. The interactive garment of claim 2 wherein the plurality of pockets includes at least one pocket positioned for a caregiver access.
 14. The interactive garment of claim 2 wherein the plurality of pockets includes at least one pocket positioned on the shirt for age-appropriate access.
 15. The interactive garment of claim 2 wherein a color of the pocket is used to indicate access by a child.
 16. The interactive garment of claim 2 wherein the plurality of pockets includes larger pockets positioned at a bottom portion of the shirt with relatively smaller pockets positioned at a top portion of the shirt.
 17. The interactive garment of claim 7 wherein the buttonholes of the pockets include toys or objects tethered to the buttonholes.
 18. The interactive garment of claim 4 wherein the multiple pocket includes one section for access of a caregiver and the other is for access by a child.
 19. The interactive garment of claim 2 including at least one pocket formed on a shoulder region of the shirt.
 20. An interactive garment comprising: a shirt having a front section attached to a rear section and sleeves extending from the attached front and rear sections, the front section including an opening; a plurality of pockets formed thereon, the pockets having various shapes including rectangular, circular, triangular and square shapes; the shirt formed of materials having contrasting colors capable of engaging the interest of a small child. 